“The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” I Samuel 16: 7b NIV I walked into church, a trained smile upon my lips; one that never seemed to reach my eyes. Our family was in the midst of a…
Category: Faith
Impatiently Waiting
“Did the mail arrive,” our high school senior asked breathlessly as she burst through the door after school. “Yes,” I answered smiling, “but it hasn’t come yet.” It was a college acceptance letter she’d been expecting for weeks, anticipating for years. She knew she was set to graduate in a few short months and desperately…
Puzzling Over Pieces
“I will come back to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you back to this place.” Jeremiah 29:10b NIV “Mommy, I need help!” Standing in the doorway, I stared aghast into our preschooler’s bedroom. She had found her new puzzles from Grandma. The five thirty-piece puzzles that hadn’t come with a picture. And,…
Entertaining The Apple
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” (Philippians 4:8, NIV) Setting: The Garden of Eden. Today’s target: Eve. Consequences: Potential fatality for all humanity. Satan slithered up and spoke with a simple,…
Grace Wins
“But He gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” James 4:6 (NIV, emphasis mine) I cannot believe this is a struggle, I thought as I quietly listened. I knew her story. I knew she had an immense Biblical background. She had many family…
Rock of Refuge
Where’s your happy place? The place where you can go when life gets to be too much? The place you go to get a break? The place where you feel safe? Maybe you are thinking of a special place: the beach, the mountains, or maybe like me, Grandma’s house. Growing up, I was blessed to…
A Joyful Noise
“An instrument fitting,” I asked our fifth-grade daughter. “What is that?” “It’s where I get to try out the instruments to determine which I would like to play in band,” she patiently explained to her uninitiated mom. “Plus, I already know a bit of piano although the teachers say we don’t have to have any…
Perseverance, Not Control
Wearily I dropped into bed. Not only physically exhausted, but emotional exhausted as well. Physical mountains to conquer and multitudes of concerns weighted my heart. Lord, where is that light at the end of the tunnel? Why can’t I find it? I bet you too know that feeling well. Maybe you too have carried a…
Time for Jesus = Abundant Life
Life. Is. Crazy. I don’t need to tell you – I’m sure you could tell me! So much to do, so little time. Ever have your mind refuse to turn off? Mentally scrolling through that to-do list, wondering how it will ever all get done? When will I find joy and peace in the everyday?…
It was Redeemed
“I was blessed by having cancer,” I often tell others. No, I would not have authored it. Oh, I pray I never repeat it. Yes, God did the impossible: He brought good from it. While the “good He brought from it” could be segmented into many categories, today I will share one: God can be…